Railway car wall



July 9,' 1946. J. lgs. sWANN RAILWAY GAR WALL Filed May 27, 1945 l 5 Sheets-Sheet l July 9, 1946..

J. s. swANN RAILWAY CAR WALL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27, 1945 INVENTOR. daf/ 25 5 15a/(Um, BY

July 9, l1946.

J. s. swANNv RAILWAY CAR WALL Filed Maya?, 1945 5 shetssheet s INVENTOR. Jaz/72425 SLUG/mz,

v BY l i JuBy 9, 1946. J.' s. .sm/ANN RAILWAY CAR WALL Filed May 27, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. Jana/6 5 wa/UZ,

July 9, 1946. J. s.l SWAN 2,403,467 RAILWAY CAR WALL! l Filed May 2"?,l 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

Patented July 9, 1946 .Standard Railway Equipment Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Dela- Ware Application May 27, 1943, Serial No. 488,693

15 Claims. 1

The invention relates to vertical walls for railway cars and more particularly to one specifical- 1y adaptable for use in open top railway cars, such as hopper and gondola cars, which, in use, are 4sometimes turned upside down, in unloading machines, to dum-p the entire load at one time. Such machines are used, for instance, to unload iron ore into the lake ore carriers or ore docks at Cleveland, Ohio, Ashtabula, Ohio, and elsewhere. Such unloading machines are also used to unload coal into lake Steamers.

The object of the invention is to construct a railway car wall from a ila-t rolled steel plate (or similar metallic plate, fsuch as alumi-num or any of the alloy plates now being produced) by forming the top chord and vertical posts integral therewith between dies in a reciprocating press and welding portions thereof together.

Another object is to form such a plate with the top and bottom chords and the vertical posts all integral therewith.

A .further obi ect is to form such integral chords and posts so that their outer portions are substantially `flush with the outer surface of the oar Wall so that the space .between the posts may be used to hold lading, thereby obtaining the maximum loading space .for the car in consideration of the outside width of the car.

A further object is to provide upwardly and inwardly inclined surfaces vfor the space between the posts so that the car will discharge all the load when turned upside down.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a portion of a side of a railway hopper car with the improved `side wall shown thereon.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective inside View of part of the improved wall as applied to a gondola car.

Fig. 5 vis a perspective outside view of part of the improved wall shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the lower part of the corner of the car.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the upper part of the corner of the car.

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8 8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a modified top chord and post construction of the wall.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of a modified form of the inside of a car wall embodying the invention.

Fig. 11 is a View similar to Fig. 5 of the outside of the `car wall shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a corner of a gondola car wall showing a further modied view of a side wall for such cars, and with the remforcing member removed.

shown in the drawings, my improved wall comprises a single metallic plate of steel, or other similar material, pressed 'laterally to form integral spaced .apart vertical posts '2 each consisting :of a web 3 and spaced sidewalls 4. The integral posts merge into the plate a distance from the upper edge lof the plate and the 4top chord '6 of the side wall `(which is a girder) is formed -of the marginal material by forming it into an inverted channel comprising a-n inner vertical portion 8 and an outer vertical portion Sconnected by a horizontal portion I0. 'The outer vertical portion 9 is substantially 'flush with the original plane of the plate and welded thereto at the juncture therewith, as shown at I2.

The parts of the plate vrIll between the vertical posts 2 are formed into upwardly and inwardly inclined .portions 1|6 (to discharge the lading) which merge into the posts 2 and also into the inner vertical `portion 8 of the top chord 6.

Members .It are preferably welded I9) to the plate 4outside of and in alignment with the posts 2.. VThese members vare strut ties and strengthen the posts both as vertical .stiffeners of the girder and as. horizontally loaded vertical beams to resist horzontal thrusts from the inside of the car, such as .is exerted by a plastic load. These members f|8 may extend to the top of the post (as shown 4'in Fig. 5) .and to the bottom ofthe plate as shown in Fig. 5) or may be placed at the middle of the posts only. Preferably the members i8 extend to the rends (top and/or bottom) of the posts, as illustrated in Fig. I5, vand thereby form a continuity of the inclined portion I6 over the posts thus effectively producing a continuous chord of the gircler. Similarly, as illustrated in Fig. 19, these members i8 extend to the .ends (top and/or bottom) of the posts 32 and forma foontinuity of that portion of the wall plate i4 forming .the outside of the chord. In other words, the reinforcing members I8 are so formed and 'secured to the wall sheet as to provide a continuity :of that portion of the wall sheet forming the chord `(under tension or compression) which is interrupted by the posts. If 'it were not for these reinforcements the chord would be weak at places in alignment with the posts.

The car is provided with the usual longitudinally spaced rcross bearers 22 which support the sill 23 (and the girder too) The sill 23 is preferably depressed, ras shown at 25, to accommodate lthe posts '2 so that the posts 'may extend continuously to the bottom of the cross bearer 22 and be secured thereto to heel the post. The plate is preferably formed with wings 2s to 4prevent; the cross bearers 22 from deflecting laterally under stress. The floor plate 28 is supported by the sill and cross bearer (Fig. 4).

Fig. 9 shows a modiiied structure wherein the plate extends tothe top of the top chord and is bent `to lform a horizontal portion 3l) which is rebent to form the upwardly and inwardly inclined portion .3| which discharges the load. The

clined portion 3| are welded together, as shown Figs. and 11 show a still further modified side wall structure wherein both the upper and l lower chords 45 and 4B and the vertica1 post 41 are all integrally formed from the side wall plate 48. In this modification the side wall rests upon the cross bearers 49, and members similar to the members I8 extend from the top chord down over the bottom chord and the end of the cross bearers 49 and are welded thereto, as in the other modications. The wing plates 5I are formed of separate triangularly shaped pieces of material and welded, as at 6U, at their upper legs to the lower outer corner of the bottom chord and at their vertical legs, as at 52, to the member I8 and to the cross bearer 49. To further strengthen the side wall in this modification of the invention, the floor plate 53 is formed with an upwardly turned side flange 54 which is welded, as at 55, to the inner vertical portion 56 of the bottom chord 46. The top chord 45 is formed identically with the top chord in the previously described modification, and the bottom chord is likewise formed the same, though reversed, as the top chord. The bottom of the Vertical posts terminate by merging into the bottom chord just as the top of the post merges into the top chord.

It will be noted in al1 modifications of the invention thus far described, no provision is made for the ladder irons, 60', other than securing them in the ordinary manner to the side :wall

adjacent the corner of the car, and thus theSr project outwardlytherefrom, and, consequently, the overall width of the car must be considered from the ladder iron and not from the car walls.

It is thus apparent that considerable lading spacel is thereby lost, and to overcome which, in the modification shown in Fig. 12, the panels 6| and posts 62 are pressed inwardly a distance about equal to the projectionof the ladder irons, and then the ladder irons are applied to the bottom of the panels so that in this manner there is no overall width of the car lost. The other panels of the car are pressed outwardly from the side wall plates as in the previously described modifications.

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 show the corner construction of the car and the method of attaching the end wall 40 to the side wall. The end wall 40 preferably comprises a metallic plate formed with a plurality'of corrugations 4l forming beams to transmit any load imposed thereon to the side walls. The corner construction shown in Fig. 6 is disclosed and claimed in Jumper and Gilpin Patent No. 2,185,168 of December 26, 1939. Fig. '7 shows how the upper part 43 of the corner post 44 is formed to accommodate the top lchord 6 of the side wall. Fig. 8 is a section on line 8--8 of Fig. 7 to show the end wall plate 40 secured to both of the vertical portions 8 and 9 of the top chord.

From the foregoing it is obvious that in all modifications the entire side wall may be constructed of one plate formed as above described, or, in the case of a long car, of a plurality of said plates welded together end to end.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and de tions-thereof, within thescope of the claims, will occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

v 1. A wall for a railway car formed of a metallic plate with integral inwardly projecting U-shaped spaced apart posts extending from the original planeof the plate; a top chord formed integrally with said plate comprising upwardly and inwardly inclined portions extending between and merging into said posts; a vertical inner portion extending continuouslybetween and over said posts; a horizontal portion extending outwardly therefrom and an outer Vertical portion depending from the horizontal portion substantially flush with the original plane of the plate, the lower edge of said outer vertical portion of the top chord being welded to said plate in substantially the original:

plane thereof.

2. A wall for a railway car formed of a metallic plate with integral inwardly projectingU-shaped spaced apart posts extending from the original plane of the plate; a top chord formed integrally with said plate comprising upwardly and'inwardly inclined portions extending between and mergingv into said posts; a vertical inner portion extending continuously between and over said posts; a horif Zontal portion extending outwardly therefrom and an outer Vertical portion depending from the horizontal portion substantially ilush with.

the original plane of the plate; the lower edge of said outer vertical portion of the top chord being welded to said plate in substantially the original plane thereof, and reinforcing members being secured to said plate in substantially the original plane thereof to form box sectional posts.

3. In a railway car having spaced cross bearersk and a sill resting upon and secured to said bearers, the combination of a wall formed of a metal- 'lic plate with integral inwardly projectingU-` shaped lspaced apart posts extending from the original plane of the plate; a top chord formedl integrally with said plate comprising upwardly vand inwardly inclined portions extending between and merging into said posts; a vertical inner portion extending continuously between and over said posts; a horizontal portion extending outwardly therefrom and an louter Vertical ,portion vdepending from the horizontal portion substantially flush with the original planerof the plate; the lower edge of said outer vertical 4portion of the top chord being welded to said plate in substantially the original plane thereof, and

reinforcing members being secured to Vsaid plate 4 in substantially the original plane thereof to formV box sectional posts, said integral posts extending downwardly below said sill and secured to said cross bearers andthe lower margin of said metallic plate being secured to saidsill.

4. A wall for a railway car; said wall being formed of at sheet material pressed to form outwardly extending panels separated by inwardly extending channel posts, a chord formed intevgrally with said sheet and comprising ,upwardly and inwardly inclined portions extending in alignment between said posts, an inner portion extending continuously over said posts, a horizontal' portion extending outwardly from the upper edge .of said inner portionand an outer portion de pending from the horizontal portion substantially flush with the original plane of said sheet,4 whereby the outer surface of said car wall is inv substantially a single plane.

5. A wall for a railway car; said wallbeing formedof `atmsheet material pressed Yto form,y

outwardly extending panels separated by inwardly extending channel posts, a chord formed integrally with said sheet and comprising upwardly and inwardly inclined portions extending in alignment between said posts, an inner portion extending continuously over said posts, a horizontal portion extending outwardly from the upper edge of said inner portion and an outer portion depending from the horizontal portion substantially flush with the original plane of said sheet, reinforcing members spanning certain of said posts and secured at opposite edges thereof to said sheet to form a box structure, whereby the outer surface of said car wall is in substantially a single plane.

6. A wall for a railway car; said wall being formed of flat sheet material pressed to form outwardly extending panels separated by inwardly extending channel posts, top and bottom chords formed integrally with said sheet and comprising inclined portions extending in opposite directions from the outer to the inner plane of the sheet, vertical portions extending from the upper and lower edges of the inclined portions, continuous horizontal portions extending from the upper and lower edges of the inner vertical portions, and outer vertical portions extending toward each other from the outer edges of the horizontal portions to the upper and lower corners of the outer plane of said panels, whereby the outer surface of said car wall is in substantially a single plane.

7. A wall for a railway car resting upon spaced apart cross bearers, said wall being formed of flat sheet material pressed to form outwardly extending panels separated by inwardly extending channel posts, top and bottom chords formed integrally with said sheet and comprising inclined portions extending in oppositedirections from the outer to the inner plane of the sheet, vertical portions extending from the upper and lower edges of the inclined portions, continuous horizontal portions extending from the upper and lower edges of the inner vertical portions, and outer vertical portions extending toward each other from the outer edges of the horizontal portions to the upper and lower corner of the outer plane of said panels, reinforcing members spanning certain of said posts and secured at opposite edges thereof to said sheet to form a box structure, said reinforcing members extending below said lower chord and secured to said cross bearers.

8. A wall for a railway car resting upon spaced apart cross bearers, said wall being formed of flat sheet material pressed to form outwardly extending panels separated by inwardly extending channel postsl top and bottom chords formed integrally with said sheet and comprising inclined portions extending in opposite directions from the outer to the inner plane of the sheet, vertical portions extending from the upper and lower edges of the inclined portions, continuous horizontal portions extending from the upper and lower edges of the inner vertical portions, and outer Vertical portions extending toward each other from the outer edges of the horizontal portions to the upper and lower corner of the outer plane of said panels, reinforcing members spanning certain of said posts and secured at opposite edges thereof to said sheet to form a box structure, said reinforcing members extending below said lower chord and secured to said cross bearers, and floor plates resting upon and secured to said cross bearers and to said bottom chord t0 anchor said post,

9. A wall for a railway car, said wall being formed of flat sheet material pressed to form outwardly extending panels separated by inwardly extending channel posts, and a chord, said chord comprising spaced inner and outer portions of unequal width connected at their upper edges by a portion extending continuously over said posts, and inclined portions extending between the lower edges of said inner and outer portions between said posts and forming parts of said panels, said panels projecting outwardly from the interior of the car to increase the cubical capacity of the car.

10. A wall for a railway car, said wall being formed of at sheet material pressed to form outwardly extending panels separated by inwardly extending channel posts, the margin of said sheet beyond the panels being formed into a box structural chord comprising spaced inner and outer portions of unequal width connected at their upper edges by a horizontal portion, and an inclined portion extending between the lower edges of said inner and outer portions and forming a part of said panels, said panels projecting outwardly from the interior of the car to increase the cubical capacity of the car.

l1. A railway car wall formed of a metallic sheet bent upon itself along a horizontal line with the free edge of said sheet secured thereto substantially along said horizontal line so as to form a hollow, continuous chord member, said sheet also formed with spaced inwardly projecting integral U-shaped vertical posts overlapping and merging into said chord so that a portion of said chord and portions of said posts form margins of outwardly projecting panels to increase the cubical capacity of the car. i

12. A wall for a railway car formed of a metallic plate with integral inwardly projecting U- shaped spaced apart posts extending from the original plane of the plate; a top chord formed integrally with said plate comprising upwardly and inwardly inclined portions extending between and merging into said posts; a horizontal portion extending outwardly therefrom, and an outer vertical portion depending from the horizontal portion substantially flush with the original plane of the plate, the lower edge of said outer Vertical portion of the top chord being Welded to said plate in substantially the original plane thereof.

13. A structure as defined in claim 11 including a member overlapping said U-shaped posts and secured thereto where said chord and posts overlap.

14. A structure as defined in claim 12 including a member overlapping said U-shaped posts and secured thereto to form a continuity of said inclined portion.

15. A railway car wall formed of a metallic plate bent to form a hollow inwardly projecting chord comprising a vertical portion, an upwardly and inwardly inclined portion and a part connecting the upper margins of said portions, the

lower margins of said portions being secured together, said plate also formed withintegral, Vertical, inwardly projecting U-shaped posts merging into one of said portions to form an overlapping relation between said chords and said posts so that said plate between said postsv forms outwardly projecting panels to increase the capacity of the car.

JAMES S, SWANN. 

